Forte (fencing)

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In fencing, forté is "the strong part" of the blade—the one third closest to the hilt. The "strength" refers to the control established over the opponent's weapon upon contact of one's forte with the opponent's foible (a situation of favourable leverage). See also parry and malparry.

Capo Ferro defines the forte as the blade from the hilt to the middle. From the middle to the top is known as the debile (Chapter 3 verse 37).

[edit] Debile

The debile is the part of the sword, especially a rapier, that isused for offensive actions.

Fencing master Capo Ferro defined the forte (fencing) as the blade from the hilt to the middle. From the middle to the top is known as the debile. For the debile only, the edges are labeled true and false, the former being the lower edge when the sword is held horizontally. The flats of the sword are not named.^[1]

By contrast, fencing master Salvator Fabris divides the debile into two sections, the third and fourth part (the first and second are divisions of the forte). The third part, midway to 3/4 of the way to the tip, is ineffective but not entirely useless for defense. The fourth part, containing the tip, can only be used for offense. For cuts, Fabris recommends that a portion of both the third and fourth part be used.^[2]

[edit] References

• Ridolfo Capo Ferro (1610), The Grand Simulacrum of the Art and use of Fencing